Too few fish in the ocean to keep humans in good health

The official advice that Britons should eat more fish as a health benefit may be altered amid growing fears that the policy is threatening efforts to conserve diminishing stocks of cod and other popular species.

The Food Standards Agency currently recommends that everyone should eat at least two portions of fish a week, including one of oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines as the omega-3 fatty acids and minerals found in fish can help combat heart disease.

The message, promoted widely since it was drawn up in 1994, sits alongside other key FSA dietary recommendations to the public to eat more fruit and vegetables, drink lots of water and consume less salt, fat and sugar.

But the government's food advisers have launched a review of the advice on fish because environmental campaigners claim it is at odds with ministers' commitments to conserve the diminishing stocks of popular species.

One option under consideration is for people to be urged to reduce their consumption of seafood from the at-risk 'red list', which includes North Atlantic cod, in favour of less popular species such as whiting.

A spokeswoman for the agency said: 'The FSA is collating information to support an assessment, drawing on advice from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the sustainability of fish stocks.'

The move will be opposed by the fishing lobby, but it is a victory for the food campaign group Sustain. Jeanette Longfield, its co-ordinator, said: 'I'm pleased. We want the policy to say that if you're going to eat fish for health reasons, eat only oily fish from a sustainable source.'